Edmonton blind man assault: 71-year-old battered with bike chain in shocking North London attack

A 71-year-old blind man has been beaten with a bike chain in broad daylight in Edmonton, North London. The pensioner was assaulted near Fore Street in Enfield shortly after 11am on 18 March. Police have arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the attack. He remains in police custody on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "One male aged in his forties in custody for the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Further enquiries continue." There were 6,944 violent offences against a person committed in Enfield last year, up from 6,158 the previous year. Overall crime in the borough was also up over the period from 22,356 to 22,788.

The attack came a day after a man in Muslim robes reportedly opened fire in the Plevna Road area of Edmonton. Officers rushed to the scene shortly before 2.15pm on Thursday to reports of shots there.

Eyewitness footage showed a group of men men disperse across a car park as a shot is fired after shouting is heard at the beginning of the clip. An armed man then chases the four boys across a nearby road, forcing drivers to take evasive action.

Officers along with armed officers attended and found evidence of a discharge of a blank firearm. No one was found with any injuries and there have been no arrests. Detectives from the Met Police's Trident Gang Crime Command are investigating.